5:11pm Tuesday 11th March 2008
By Will Carson
A FOUR-year-old girl was rushed to hospital this afternoon suffering from serious head injuries after being involved in a four-car pile-up on the M27.
The child was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital following the crash, which forced police to close the motorway between junctions five and seven of the motorway at around 12.15pm.
Her injuries are said to be serious but have been confirmed as not life threatening.
A 20-year-old woman driving a Vauxhall Corsa and her 19-year-old male passenger were taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where they were treated for whiplash.
The driver of a Renault Clio, a 20-year-old woman, and a nine-month-old boy who was her passenger were both treated for minor injuries.
The 46-year-old male driver of a Ford Fiesta was uninjured.
Both carriageways of the M27 were shut following the crash to allow the air ambulance to land.
The eastbound carriageway was reopened at 12.50pm but police warned that the westbound carriageway would remain closed for "some considerable time" to allow for a full investigation into the accident to take place.
The carraigeway was reopened at 4.45pm as the Highways Agency began to allow drivers through the closed section of motorway.
Beforehand, motorists were being advised to come off the M27 at junction seven on the A334 to Thornhill Roundabout, take the A27 to Mansbridge then take the A335 back to junction five of the motorway.
Police are asking motorists who may have witnessed the incident to contact them on 0845 045 4545, quoting Operation Satay.
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